Biography

From 1961 through 1967 Bill Crothers was the Canadian national champion in the 880 yards and, from 1961 through 1965, held the 440 yard title. He had taken up running at the age of 15 and made his international debut at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, coming in sixth in the 4x440 yards relay (with Don Bertoia, Lynn Eves, and George Shepherd). The following year he was awarded the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s best athlete after posting the two fastest 880 yard times of the year and winning national tournaments in Canada, Great Britain, and the United States. He also graduated from the University of Toronto’s pharmacy school that year, but decided to continue his pursuit of amateur sports before beginning a career. He was selected for the 1964 Summer Olympics and won silver in the 800 metres, behind Peter Snell of New Zealand, and was also eliminated in the semifinals of the 400 metres. For this achievement he received the Lou Conacher Award as Canada’s top male athlete of the year.

His best days coming to an end, Crothers continued to compete for several years and won the 800 m at the 1965 Summer Universiade. He then captured silver in the 4x440 yards relay (alongside Don Domansky, Ross MacKenzie, and Brian MacLaren) at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. His final major international medals, silver, came in 800 m and the 4x400 m relay (with Mackenzie, MacLaren, and Robert McLaren) at the 1967 Pan American Games. He then attended the 1968 Summer Olympics, being eliminated in the opening round of the 4x400 m relay (alongside MacKenzie, MacLaren, and Wes Brooker), and retired from active competition, eventually running a pharmacy in Markham, Ontario. He has been inducted into the Canadian Olympic (1965), Canada’s Sports (1971), and University of Toronto Athletics (1987) Halls of Fame.

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